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Azerbaijan-Iran visa regime can be abolished by late 2016

Iran and Azerbaijan believe it is necessary to abolish visa regime in order to boost economy and tourism, says Mohsen Pak Ayeen, Iranian ambassador to Baku.

"We assume that by late 2016, the visa issue will be settled after installation of technical equipment at the border crossing points," he told reporters Feb. 25.

The ambassador added that the visa abolition is projected to cover all Iranians, regardless of the type of the visa issued.

Pak Ayeen further said Azerbaijan and Iran signed a document Feb. 23 to connect Iran's Astara and Azerbaijan's Astara border checkpoints, as part of the North South railway corridor.

He said a bridge is set to be constructed in Astara, jointly between Iran and Azerbaijan on a 50-50 share basis.

The diplomat also said materials have been delivered for a 30-km section of the Qazvin-Rasht railway (a part of North South Corridor inside Iran) and a tender has been held for construction the Rasht-Anzali-Astara line.

"Several companies from China, Azerbaijan and Russia are ready to take part in the Qazvin-Rasht railway project, but it is not finalized yet," he added.